Greater Trail transit riders will see changes this spring with a few new cosmetic alterations.
The East End Services (EES) committee approved $15,000 for two new bus shelters for hard weather spots in Trail and glass plates for an existing stop in Fruitvale at the Feb. 19 meeting.
The new shelters were approved on recommendation by Trail EES representative Robert Cacchioni after he noticed places where seniors and students had to stay out in the cold and snow.
He noted that both East Trail and Sunningdale would likely receive a new stop.
“We are getting a younger population coming into those areas and they are having more kids and we are having these little kids standing out in the snow and rain,” he said.
The Fruitvale shelter will be glassed in for seniors who find it difficult to wait for the bus there in inclement weather and during the winter.
The cost will be $12,000 for the two new shelters and the glass costs $3,000, half of the actual price tag to be split with BC Transit.
One fare, one ride
As of April 1 there will be one fare implemented for the region-wide transit system.
The new fare will reduce the cost for transit for riders who travel into Castlegar and beyond. Around 8.9 per cent of the total Kootenay Boundary regional transit riders travel between Castlegar and Trail.
“(The new fare) was designed to improve service and reduce costs in some places, but generally to make it easier for people who are using transit to understand it and not have to get on one bus and go on another bus,” said Cacchioni.
The ease of using the new fare is expected to increase ridership.